Material handling basket



Nov. 29, 1960 Filed April 22, 1958 F. M. MOORE MATERIAL HANDLING BASKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1 2/5012 jIl/I/aore AT-TORNEYS l Nov. 29, 1960 F. M. MOORE MATERIAL HANDLING BASKET eat 2 gs-Sh 4 Sheet Filed April 22, 1958 I N V EN TOI K. fl/fm JAZZ/00m ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1960 Filed April 22, 1958 32 Z 77 25 x I .20 l

i ll| l F. M. MOORE MATERIAL HANDLING BASKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

v l Zg/fM/IZ 11/001? TTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1960 F.M.IMOORE MATERIAL HANDLING BASKET Filed April 22, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fizz /Z012 Mil/00f? W e.

ATTORNEYS MATERIAL HANDLING BASKET 2,962,273 Patented Nov. 29,1960

openings through the webs and the frames are connected by transversely and longitudinally disposed beams extended through the openings of the Webs of the frames without welding or other rigid connecting means whereby each part is free to expand and contract independently I so that it is not necessary that each part be formed of,

Fulton M. Moore, Cambridge, Md., assignor to Cambridge Wire Cloth Company, Cambridge, Md.

Filed Apr. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 730,220

2 Claims. (Cl. 26347) This invention relates to carriers used in material handling in heat treating and pickling baths where the parts are subjected to high temperatures and rapid cooling, and wherein with the structural elements connected by welding intergranular corrosion, stress corrosion and carbide precipitation may alfect the areas adjacent to the weld and promote early failure in the connections, and in particular a carrier in which the structural elements are loosely connected to compensate for excessive expansion and contraction.

The invention particularly relates to a tray or grid adapted to be used as the bottom of a basket orcrate,

material having a common co-eificient of expansion.

A further object of the invention is, therefore, to provide means for connecting transversely and longitudinally disposed elements of a tray to side and end members of the tray whereby the ends of the elements extend into sockets secured to the inner surfaces of the side and end members with loose connecting elements such as coldformed or hollow rivets. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved tray or basket for carrying parts for heat treating, pickling and the like in which the device is of a comparatively simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a tray having side and end members with outwardly bowed straps having openings there through secured to the side and end members with loose which may also be used as a section of a conveyor belt and which is also adapted to be used independently as a grid for carrying materials through or into a furnace and from the furnace into a pickling bath or the like.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a tray formed of structural elements in which the elements are not rigidly connected sothat the parts may readily, ex pand and contract to compensate forrapid' changes-in temperature.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a tray of structural elements in which the tray is adapted to be used independently or as a bottom of a basket or crate and in which play is provided in the connections between the structural elements of the tray whereby the parts are free to move in expanding and contracting without breaking the joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for connecting a plurality of frames of progressive sizes whereby connecting elements are free to slide through openings of the frames and wherein the parts are securely held together to prevent separation of the joints.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tray or basket constructed of structural elements in which the elements are freely connected and in which the elements expand and contract uniformly so that the movement of one part in relation to another is reduced to a minimum.

Carriers used in heat treating furnaces, pickling baths, and for subjecting parts to hot air blasts are subjected to excessive abuse because, being first subjected to extremely high temperatures and substantially instantly dipped into a pickling bath the change from expansion to contraction is not uniform throughout the mass of material of the individual elements and such elements crack and break rapidly. Where the structural elements are connected by welding intergranular corrosion, stress corrosion and carbide precipitation may affect the areas adjacent to the weld, promoting early failure of the structural elements, and where they are connected by bolts or tightly closed rivets, the bolt or rivet heads may break away.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a tray adapted to be used independently or as a section of a conveyor belt or as a bottom of a basket or crate in which a plurality of frames of progressively increasing sizes are provided with vertically disposed webs with fasteners, and transversely and longitudinally disposed beams positioned with ends thereof extended through the openings of the straps and also having spaced intermediateframes carried by the transversely and longitudinally disposed members; and the tray may also include handles, side and endwalls and a wire cloth lining. Mother features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection-with the drawings, wh'ereini i 3 Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the tray as the bottom of a basket in which the sideanderid walls of the basket are also formed with extensible lements and in which handlesextend upwardly from the sides.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the basket shown in Figure. 1 with part of the wire cloth or mesh broken away to show supporting means below and with part of one corner broken away to show the frame structure.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the basket shown in Figure 1, looking toward a side on which a handle is provided.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the basket taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the parts shown on an en-' larged scale.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3 illustrating the connection of one side of a handle to the upper rail of a side of the basket, the parts being shown on a further enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a detail showing a section taken on line 66 of Figure 3 with the parts also shown on an enlarged scale and illustrating the connection of the lower end of the handle to the bottom frame of the basket.

Figure 7 is a detail also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale showing a section taken on line 77 of Figure 3, illustrating a connection at the upper corner of the basket.

Figure 8 is a detail showing a typical section through the peripheral frame of the tray illustrating a sliding connection between a transverse or longitudinally disposed member and the frame of the tray. 7

Figure 9 is a view looking upwardly showing the under side of the tray, with the wire mesh and handle form ing elements omitted.

Figure 10 is a detail, also on an enlarged scale showing a section somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 6 and illustrating a modification wherein the side member of the frame is formed with a bar instead of an angle.

Figure 11 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of the tray, similar to that shown in vFigure 9, illustrating a modification wherein the tray is formed with spasms circular intermediate sections and the connecting beams are diagonally positioned.

Figure 12 is a cross section through the tray shown in Figure 11 being taken on line 12-12 thereof and showing the tray parts forming a basket extended upwardly from the upper surface.

Figure 13 is a detail with the parts shown on an enlarged scale showing a section taken on line 13-13 of Figure 11 illustrating a connection between bars of the bottom or lower part of the tray and a frame extended around the upper edge of a basket formed with the tray.

Figure 14 is a similar detail showing a section taken through the lower rim of the basket showing the openings through which the bars extend through the circular and square frame members of the tray.

Figure 15 is a detail showing a longitudinal section through the tray, similar to that shown in Figure 12 with the parts shown on an enlarged scale showing an offset connection at the center of the tray.

Figure 16 is a detail illustrating a further modifica-. tion wherein a supporting element is incorporated in the corners of the tray shown in Figure 11.

Figure 17 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of a tray illustrating a further modification wherein the bottom or tray is formed with a plurality of frames of progressively increasing sizes.

Figure 18 is a detail showing a section taken on line 18-.18 of Figure 17 illustrating a method of connecting the ends of an intermediate frame with a rod extended through the frame.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the material handling tray of this invention, in its preferred form, as illustrated in Figure 9, includes an outer frame having side rails and 12, end rails 13 and 14, an inner frame having side rails and 16, an end rail 17 at one end and an end rail formed with sections 18 and 19 at the opposite end, an intermediate frame having side rails 20 and 21, an end rail 22 at one end and an end rail formed with sections 23 and 24 at the opposite end, transversely disposed beams 25, 26 and 27, longitudinally disposed beams 28, 29 and 30 positioned in a plane below the plane of the beams 25, 26, and 27, brackets or stirrups 31 secured to the side and end rails of the outer frame with hollow or cold-formed rivets or thimbles 32 and clip angles 33 also secured to the side and end rails with fasteners such as the hollow rivets 32 and providing means for loosely connecting the side and end rails at the corners of the frame.

The brackets 31, as illustrated in Figure 8 are provided with arcuate inwardly extended portions having centrally positioned openings 34 into which the ends of the tubular beams extend therein, and with the size of the openings being greater than the periphery of the beams the beams are free to slide circumferentially and longitudinally in the connecting elements. The ends of the brackets are also provided with openings, such as the openings 35 and 36, and these openings are also larger than the rivets or fastening elements whereby expansion and contraction between the elements is possible.

It will also be noted that the ends of the rivets are spaced from the surfaces of the rails and brackets whereby the parts are free to slide longitudinally of the rivets. Also in Figure 8, it will be noted that the ends of the beams, such as the beam 25, are spaced from the rails whereby the rails provide stops limiting longitudinal movement of the beams. Furthermore, the outside diameter of the rivets is less than that of the Openings in the brackets and rails, and with the brackets, rails, and rivets loosely held the elements expand and contract independently and without changing the relation between the parts.

The sections 18 and 19 of one side of the inner frame are provided with overlapping ends having openings therethrough, and as illustrated in Figure 18, the openings of the overlapping ends are larger than the rods or tubes passing therethrough whereby the rods or tubes are free to expand and contract without moving the frame. The sections 23 and 24 of one side of the intermediate frame are also provided with overlapping ends and the beam 29 extends through openings in the ends.

As illustrated in Figure 6 the side and end rails of the outer frame may be formed of angle bars or may be L-shaped in cross section whereby the wire mesh or cloth of a basket may rest upon the upper or horizontally disposed legs. The side and end rails may also be formed of fiat bars or plates, as illustrated in Figure 10 with the horizontally disposed legs omitted.

The tray may also be formed, as illustrated in Figure 11, with end rails 37 and 38, a side rail 39, at one side of the tray and a side rail formed with sections 40 and 41, at the opposite side. The frame of the tray is reinforced with an inner circular frame 42, an outer circular frame 43 and an intermediate circular frame 44 and the circular frames are provided with overlapping ends having openings therethrough through which reinforcing rods of the tray extend.

The tray illustrated in Figure 11 includes a transversely disposed rod 45 and a longitudinally disposed rod 46 and, as shown in Figure 15, the rod 46 is provided with an offset section 47 that is positioned to receive a similar section 48 of the rod 45. Also as illustrated in Figure 15 the inner circular rail 42 is provided with overlapping ends 49 and 50 and the ends are provided with openings 51 and 52, respectively through which the rod 46 passes.

The tray illustrated in Figure 11 is also provided with diagonally disposed rods 53, 54, 55 and 56, the inner ends of the rods extending through the inner circular rail 42 in which upset inner ends 57 retain the rods in position, and the outer ends of the rods extending through the side and end rails and corners of the frame are also upset, as shown. The extended ends of the rods 45 and 46 and also the rods 53, 54, 55 and 56 extend upwardly providing vertically disposed sections 58 which extend through openings 59 in an upper frame 60, as shown in Figure 13 and the extended ends of the sections 58, as indicated by the numeral 61 extend through the upper edge of an inner wire cloth lining 62 nd also through a reinforcing strip 63 on the inner surface of the wire, and on the inner side of the strip 63 the ends are offset, as shown at the point 64. l

The basket illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 is provided with handles formed with side rods 65 and 66, the rods extending through openings 67 in the upper strips 63, through the wire cloth or mesh and through the side rails 60, as shown in Figure 13. From the side rails 60 the rods of the handles extend downwardly with vertically disposed sections 68 and 69, the ends of which extend through openings 70 in the side rails at the lower edge of the frame and 71 in the circular frame 43. The extended ends of the rods are upset, as shown at the point 72. It will be understood, however, that the handles may be mounted on the basket by other suitable means.

In the design illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive the tray illustrated in Figure 9 provides a bottom for a basket having wire cloth or mesh side walls 75 and 76, end walls 77 and 78 and handles 79 and 80 extended from the end walls. As illustrated in Figure 7 the upper edge of the basket is provided with an outer frame 81 and an inner frame 82 and the rods of the handles extend through the frame, downwardly on the outside of the basket with sections 83 and inwardly through the side and end rails of the bottom, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 of the basket shown in Figure 12 and also as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The lower ends 84 of the sections 83 of the handles extend through openings 85 in the side and end rails of the tray and the extended ends are upset providing enlarged portions '86 by which the handles are retained in the side and end rails.

Each of the wallsof the basket is provided with a plurality of inclined strips 87 and inclined bars 88, the upper ends of the bars extending through upper ends of the strips and upper frames as shown in Figure 4 in which the upper ends, as indicated by the numeral 89 are upset as shown at the point 90. The lower ends of the bars extend through the lower ends of thenext strips and also through the side and end rails of the tray with extended ends upset, similar to the upper ends. Each of the side and end walls of the basket is provided with vertically disposed strips 91 and 92 the upper and lower ends of the strips being secured to the members of the frames and tray with rivets 93 as shown in Figure 7 the rivets extending through openings in the frame members and the openings being larger than the rivets, as shown. The lower ends of the strips 91 and 92 at the corners of the walls are secured to the side and end rails of the tray with rivets, such as the rivets 94, shown in Figure 6.

In the design illustrated in Figure 6 the side and end rails of the tray are provided with upper horizontally disposed legs 95 upon which the wire cloth or mesh bottom 96 is positioned, and in Figure the tray is formed with plates or bars 97 instead of the L or angle shaped members. In this design bars 98 of the handles extend through openings 99 of the bars 97 and strips 100 similar to the strips 87 are secured to the rails 97 with rivets 101. In this design the tray is formed with connecting rails 102 and tubes 103 extend through the intermediate part of the tray similar to the tubes or beams 25 to 30. The tray of this design is also provided with intermediate frames 104 and rods 105 that are similar to the rods 88 are positioned on the outer surfaces of the walls of the basket.

In the design illustrated in Figure 16 the tray shown in Figure 11 is reinforced at the corners with brackets 106 having overlapping ends 107 and 108 positioned between a circular frame 109 and side rails 110 and end rails 111 of a tray. The tray is also provided with diagonally disposed rods 112, similar to the rods 55.

In the design illustrated in Figure 17 a tray is provided with side and end rails 113, spaced intermediate frames 114 each having overlapping ends and rods 115 which extend through the side and end rails and intermediate frame and, as shown in Figure 18 the ends of the rods are upset providing enlarged sections 116.

It will be understood that the trays may be formed of any suitable number of intermediate frames and with the frames supported with transversely and longitudinally disposed bars, beams, or tubes which extend through openings in the rails and frames, and, as shown in Figure 18, the openings are larger than the rods or beams.

With the parts formed in this manner trays or baskets may be provided that are particularly adapted for carrying materials through furnaces and pickling baths in heat treating, plating and the like and the device may be provided as an independent tray, or as the bottom of a basket or crate, or used as a section of a conveyor belt, or as a grid or the like.

The trays or baskets using the trays as base or bottom elements may also be provided in diiferent designs, and, as illustrated in Figure 17, any suitable number of frames, tubular beams or rods may be used.

It will be understood that other modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material handling tray, the combination which comprises a frame having side and end rails with clip angles overlapping ends of the rails at the corners of the frame, said clip angles and rails having registering openings therethrough, hollow rivets with upset ends extended through the openings of the clip angles and rails for retaining the rails in assembled relation, the diameters of the openings of the clip angles and rails being greater than the outside diameters of the rivets extended through said openings and the upset ends of the rivets being spaced from the surfaces of the clip angles and rails, brackets having arcuate inwardly extended portions withopenings in the arcuate inwardly extended portions and ends and with the openings in the ends positioned in registering relation with openings of the side and end rails, spaced transversely and longitudinally disposed tubular beams extended across the intermediate part of the frame and positioned with ends of the beams in the openings of the arcuate inwardly extended portions of the brackets, the diameters of the openings of the brackets being greater than the outside diameters of the beams and the transversely disposed and longitudinally disposed beams being positioned in spaced horizontally disposed planes, hollow rivets having upset ends extended through openings in ends of the brackets and rails for retaining the brackets in position in the frame and the diameters of the openings of the brackets and rails being greater than the outside diameters of the rivets, the upset ends of the rivets being spaced from adjoining surfaces of the brackets and rails, side and end Walls having rails at upper edges thereof spaced above and corresponding to the side and end rails of the frame, and bracing bars having right angularly exwalls extended upwardly from the frame and positioned tended ends extended in inclined position between side and end rails of the frame and side and end rails of the with the right angularly extended ends thereof in openings of said rails, inner ends of said bracing rods being upset and the diameters of the rods being less than the diameters of the openings through which the rods extend.

2. In a material handling tray, the combination which comprises a frame having side and end rails with clip angles overlapping ends of the rails at the corners of the frame, said clip angles and rails having registering openings therethrough, hollow rivets with upset ends extended through the openings of the clip angles and rails for retaining the rails in assembled relation, the diameters of the openings of the clip angles and rails being greater than the outside diameters of the rivets extended through said openings and the upset ends of the rivets being spaced from the surfaces of the clip angles and rails, brackets having arcuate inwardly extended portions with openings in the arcuate inwardly extended portions and ends and with the openings in the ends positioned in registering relation with openings of the side and end rails, spaced transversely and longitudinally disposed tubular beams extended across the intermediate part of the frame and positioned with ends of the beams in the openings of the arcuate inwardly extended portions of the brackets, the diameters of the openings of the brackets being greater than the outside diameters of the beams and the transversely disposed and longitudinally disposed beams being positioned in spaced horizontally disposed planes, hollow rivets having upset ends extended through openings in ends of the brackets and rails for retaining the brackets in position in the frame and the diameters of the openings of the brackets and rails being greater than the outside diameters of the rivets, the upset ends of the rivets being spaced from adjoining surfaces of the brackets and rails, side and end walls having rails at upper edges thereof spaced above and corresponding to the side and end rails of the frame, bracing bars having right angularly extended ends extended in inclined position between side and end rails of the frame and side and end rails of the walls extended upwardly from the frame and positioned with the right angularly extended ends thereof in openings of said rails, inner ends of said bracing rods being upset and the diameters of the rods being less than the diameters of the openings through which the rods extend, and handles having offset portions therein and right angularly disposed lower ends positioned on ends of the frame with the offset sections therein extended through the rails at the upper edges of said end walls and with the lower ends extended 8 Garofalo May 9, 1950 Holden July 25, 1950 Garofalo Oct. 2, 1956 Beadle Sept. 24, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Page 1495 and page 1577 of the July and August 1955 copies of Industrial Heating," published by National Industrial Publishing Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. 

